Tips To Pack Furniture For Long-Term Storage

Mar 24, 2023 Preparing large, heavy furniture for a safe, sound move requires proper planning. You need to be extra careful when lifting your pool table, beds, frames, dressing table and sofa, as poor handling can lead to personal injury. The process of moving large pieces from one place to another is pretty straightforward. The problem occurs if moving to a smaller house or your precious old furniture doesn’t match the new decor. Some may don’t have the layout plan. Despite any reason, ensure you have a proper strategy for the furniture items you don’t want to take at the new house. In such a situation, long-term storage is a great option. You can store anything for more than 4 weeks without any stress. It is good to pack your furniture using proper techniques for long-term storage. This will keep your antique pieces, upholstered furniture and large stuff in great shape in the warehouse. You can hire the best Removalists Adelaide that can offer you a reliable storage option for longer periods of time. So, here are some great packing tips to help you keep your valuable furniture pieces intact in the warehouse until you want them back. Let’s Get Started!

1. Select the Right Size of Storage Unit

Before packing, ensure that you choose the right size of warehouse or storage unit in Adelaide. For that, you need to inventory the furniture items you want to keep in a warehouse. For instance, you need a 35sq ft unit to store all of your large furniture pieces, while a 170sq ft unit could hold the contents of a three-bedroom house. So, you should ask relevant questions to the company and clear all your doubts before booking a storage unit when moving a house.

2. Remove Dust and Dirt From Furniture

Once you have selected your warehouse unit, the next step is to preparing your bulky furniture for long-term storage. It is important to thoroughly clean your wooden, upholstered, metal and leather furniture pieces using proper methods. This is a crucial step because packing dirty or stained furniture can harbour mould and can damage its finish over time. Leaving furniture dirty is one of the biggest self-storage mistakes people make when relocating home. Get rid of loose dirt particles, pet hair, and other debris using a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner with a HEPA-filter to trap 99.99 per cent of germs and bacteria. It is good to read the label to know the cleaning code before applying any stain remover on your upholstered furniture. You can clean according to the following codes:

• Cleaning Code “W” : Furniture with this code means you can clean it with water. You can use upholstery cleaner to remove spill and stain.
• Cleaning Code “S”: You can use solvents (dry clean only) to remove stains. However, it won’t react well if water applied on the surface.
• Cleaning Code “S/W”: You can use a combination of dry cleaning solvents and hot water to remove spills and stains.
• Cleaning Code “X”: Do not use water-based solvent. Vacuum clean only to maintain its pristine shine.

Instead of using harsh solvents, use vinegar, baking soda and warm water to treat spills, pet stains and mould. You can also polish your wooden furniture using olive oil and other natural products.

3. Disassemble Large Furniture Pieces

This is a pivotal step if you want to make the most of the storage space. Disassembling bulky and large pieces can prevent back, shoulder and knee injuries. So, read the instructions for each furniture piece and see what can be taken apart. Take drawers out of units, remove bed frames, legs and mattress, remove the legs of your dining table and dismantle your pool table before packing them. Make sure you put all screws and other hardware items in a Ziploc bag and secure it with the furniture or inside your drawers. You can also hire professional Adelaide removalists who can disassemble your large furniture, and pack and relocate them to the storage unit without causing any damage. The best part is that they know the hacks to avoid lifting injuries and load your furniture easily onto the moving truck.

4. Pack or Cover Your Furniture

Covering your leather couch, upholstered chairs, beds, pool table, and other pieces can keep them in good condition throughout the storage phase. Packing paper, bubble wraps, blankets and other cushioning materials prevents scratches and protects them from dust, mould and germs. It is good to use a two-layer packing technique to protect your delicate furniture pieces, especially glass frames, mirrors and antiques. You can use old blankets, bed sheets and towels to protect them in a storage unit. You can follow more tips to make your move eco-friendly when packing your household stuff.

5. Cover the Floors To Prevent Damage

Upholstered furniture can absorb moisture from the floor, and this can cause damage. You can protect it by lining the floor with plastic sheets. You can also place cinder blocks or pallets by raising your furniture and covering them using plastic sheets.   Let professional removalists Adelaide lift and load your large pieces- this will prevent injury.

6. Place Precious Possessions Carefully

Once you have placed a plastic lining over your floors, the next step is to place your furniture items in the storage unit properly. With the help of professionals, you can store your stuff in an organised way to keep them in the best shape. You can also store your household stuff in a warehouse for 2-3 weeks if you want to stage your house for a quick sale. This is a great option if your new house is not ready but you need to sell out your current home. Use a warehouse for a short time period. Do not place sofas and couches on their sides, and make sure you leave 3 inches of gap between each piece. Also, leave room for air circulation to prevent mould and other issues.

7. Pay Attention to the Climate Control Feature of a Warehouse

If you want to keep your furniture safe for a longer period, be sure a warehouse is a climate-controlled unit. Such units stay between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent humidity and moisture in the air. Choosing a temperature-regulated warehouse will keep your belongings intact throughout the phase, and you will receive your stuff in the same condition. You can also recycle old furniture if you no longer need and upgrade it according to your new house.

Wrapping Up

Hopefully! This guide has helped you prepare your household furniture for long-term storage. You can follow these simple tips and keep your expensive and bulky couches, sofas, tables, dressers, beds and other items safe and secure in a warehouse or storage unit.